Gardeners Locksbottom Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the actions and commitments of Gardeners Locksbottom to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards and to ensure that the people who contribute to our services are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Our Zero-Tolerance Approach

Gardeners Locksbottom has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, human trafficking, servitude, and child labour. This applies to every aspect of our business and to all individuals and organisations working with or on behalf of Gardeners Locksbottom. Any suspected instance of modern slavery will be treated seriously, investigated promptly, and may result in termination of contracts or relationships with the parties involved.

We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation on modern slavery and human rights. Our internal policies and procedures are designed to ensure that all staff understand their responsibilities and that no practice within our business or supply chain contributes, directly or indirectly, to exploitation.

Supply Chain Standards and Supplier Audits

Our suppliers and contractors are essential to the delivery of our services, and we expect them to share our commitment to ethical conduct. Gardeners Locksbottom requires suppliers to operate in line with applicable labour, employment, and human rights laws and to maintain working conditions that respect the welfare of their employees and subcontractors.

As part of our due diligence, we assess the risk of modern slavery within our supply chains and may carry out checks and reviews of suppliers based on the nature of the goods and services they provide, their geographical locations, and their industry sector. Where appropriate, we conduct supplier audits, which may include requests for information on labour practices, recruitment methods, and health and safety standards.

If a supplier is found to be in breach of our modern slavery requirements, we will engage with them to remedy the situation where possible. Where satisfactory remediation is not achieved, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate the relationship.

Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing Channels

Gardeners Locksbottom encourages staff, suppliers, and other stakeholders to raise any concerns related to modern slavery or unethical conduct. We maintain internal reporting channels that enable individuals to report suspicions or incidents confidentially and without fear of retaliation. Reports may relate to our own operations or to any third party associated with our business.

All reports of potential modern slavery will be investigated promptly and impartially. Where required, matters will be escalated to senior management for review and action. We will cooperate with relevant authorities in any formal investigations and will take all appropriate steps to protect individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

Training, Awareness, and Responsibility

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery rests with senior management at Gardeners Locksbottom. They are accountable for ensuring that suitable policies, procedures, and controls are in place and kept up to date. Managers are expected to promote a culture of integrity and to remain vigilant to potential risks in their areas of responsibility.

We aim to raise awareness of modern slavery risks among our employees through guidance and communication about the signs of exploitation and the steps to take if they have concerns. Staff involved in procurement and supplier management receive additional guidance on assessing risk and applying our standards within the supply chain.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Locksbottom is committed to reviewing and strengthening our approach to modern slavery on an ongoing basis. This Statement and the underlying policies and procedures are reviewed at least annually to ensure they remain effective, relevant, and aligned with legal requirements and best practice.

As part of the annual review, we consider changes in our operations and supply chains, any reported concerns or incidents, and feedback from employees and suppliers. Where necessary, we update our risk assessments, improve our supplier due diligence, refine our reporting mechanisms, and enhance training materials.

This Modern Slavery Statement has been approved by the leadership of Gardeners Locksbottom and reflects our continuing commitment to combatting modern slavery and human trafficking in all their forms.